Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 2nd, 2012 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Wind Slabs, Cornices, Persistent Slabs and Loose Wet.

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Solar radiation could be intense on Tuesday which will lead to a rise in avalanche danger through the day. Wind slabs, cornices and deeper weak layers will be easier to trigger as the day goes on. Loose wet slides are also a strong possibility.

Summary

Confidence

Good - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Weather Forecast

A warm, sunny and very windy day is expected on Tuesday. Solar radiation will be significant and freezing levels could hit 2100m. Wednesday is calling for another 15 to 20cm of snow.

Avalanche Summary

Some sluffing was observed in steep terrain. Three avalanches up to size 2.5 were triggered by cornice failures which pulled out slabs below. These were storm slab failures, with one slide stepping to ground. Several natural, skier remote, and skier accidental avalanches up to size 3.0 occurred in the Kananaskis Region and other areas in the southern Rockies on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

New snow amounts were highly variable across the region with an average of 10cm new at treeline. Extensive wind transport due to strong SW winds is building cornices and wind slabs up to 60cm deep. These slabs are very sensitive where they overlie previously formed sun crusts. Solar aspects are sun crusted, which breaks down during the day with very limited solar input. The February surface hoar and the deeply buried basal facets seem to be coming alive again as we transition into Spring.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs continue to form with strong SW winds and are now up to 60cm deep. Natural and human triggered avalanches up to size 2.5 have occurred with many avalanches failing on the crust down 40-60cm. Slides may step down to deeper layers.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Cornices

Recent snow and strong SW winds, coupled with strong solar radiation at this time of year, are causing cornices to collapse. Cornices are triggering avalanches up to size 2.5 on underlying slopes, with some slides stepping to ground.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 5

Persistent Slabs

The February surface hoar is buried 120-150cm at treeline. This interface is still hard to trigger, but it has come back alive in recent cornice triggered avalanches. The spring transition could see more avalanches stepping down to this layer.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 6

Loose Wet

Intense spring-time solar radiation and warm temperatures will destabilize the snowpack through the day. Steep SE through W aspects are the most concerning.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Apr 3rd, 2012 9:00AM